Taxi vehicle standards public consultation

Cookie_Monster

just posted in motors but is relevant here also I reckon

http://vehiclestandards.nationaltransport.ie/

have your say

doopa

I would encourage everyone that ever whinges about taxi provision in Ireland to take part in the survey - think about how much time you spend whinging versus how long filling out the form will take.

mikemac

Once they take the battered 15 year old Carinas off the road I'm happy

Those boyos ruin it for everyone else. As there are 15 year old and older Mercedes on the road and the drivers keep them immaculate.
Realy care for their car

But the catch all age rule makes both of these drivers equal and they both are forced to change.

FreudianSlippers

Please, please, please don't make them all yellow. It's an assault on the eyes.
If they have to be all one colour I hope that we take queues from Germany and go for RAL 1015 (light ivory).

foggy_lad

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

Please, please, please don't make them all yellow. It's an assault on the eyes.
If they have to be all one colour I hope that we take queues from Germany and go for RAL 1015 (light ivory).

Shamrock green with a little Darby O'Gill character sat atop the sign would be an obvious choice?

-Chris-

Off-topic posts deleted.

This is a thread about the vehicle standards only, and preferably a discussion about the Vehicle Standards Questionnaire.

ToxicPaddy

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

If they have to be all one colour I hope that we take queues from Germany and go for RAL 1015 (light ivory).

I have to agree on this one. A standard make/model and colour would be fantastic.

I know in a lot of countries they offer a standard spec of car as a taxi/wheelchair accessible taxi but the cost offered to taxi owner/drivers is a fair chunk cheaper than the same model would be for a private car owner.

If I was the regulator, I'd do the following:

• Set up a company that supplies the standard spec of taxi less VRT/VAT to the taxi industry.
• Offer finance at reasonable rates through this company at a decent rate for the age the car is on the road, so if the max age is 9 years the offer finance packages up to 9 years
• Offer a trade in scheme to encourage taxi owners to use this service
• Offer a discounted maintenance service that ensures the cars are kept to a proper standard of safety and all cars must be maintained using this service.

I reckon something like that would be an option for the future and encourage the standardisation and modernisation of the industry which is long overdue.

A lot of professional taxi drivers I reckon would be on for something like this and its also a way to get those who see it as an easy number and give the industry a bad name out of the game.

Spook_ie

ToxicPaddy wrote: »

I have to agree on this one. A standard make/model and colour would be fantastic.

I know in a lot of countries they offer a standard spec of car as a taxi/wheelchair accessible taxi but the cost offered to taxi owner/drivers is a fair chunk cheaper than the same model would be for a private car owner.

If I was the regulator, I'd do the following:

• Set up a company that supplies the standard spec of taxi less VRT/VAT to the taxi industry.
• Offer finance at reasonable rates through this company at a decent rate for the age the car is on the road, so if the max age is 9 years the offer finance packages up to 9 years
• Offer a trade in scheme to encourage taxi owners to use this service
• Offer a discounted maintenance service that ensures the cars are kept to a proper standard of safety and all cars must be maintained using this service.

I reckon something like that would be an option for the future and encourage the standardisation and modernisation of the industry which is long overdue.

A lot of professional taxi drivers I reckon would be on for something like this and its also a way to get those who see it as an easy number and give the industry a bad name out of the game.

EU won't let you promote one make over and above another, only way you'd get anywhere near circumventing the EU competition laws would be by specifying something like the minimum turning circle ( 25ft/8m )as with the London Blackcabs

foggy_lad

Spook_ie wrote: »

EU won't let you promote one make over and above another, only way you'd get anywhere near circumventing the EU competition laws would be by specifying something like the minimum turning circle ( 25ft/8m )as with the London Blackcabs

So specify this and also specify the minimum door size and ride height etc, there are hundreds of suitable vehicles already but taxi drivers may not like the idea of being told what car they can drive? There should be one colour maybe a luminous orange or lime green to make the cars stand out and a clear light system so you know when a driver is looking for a fare or off duty/booked, as for the testing and regular checks this is going to be looked after by the nct who can as shown by reporters get you passed practically untested for a hundred euro!

FreudianSlippers

Spook_ie wrote: »

EU won't let you promote one make over and above another, only way you'd get anywhere near circumventing the EU competition laws would be by specifying something like the minimum turning circle ( 25ft/8m )as with the London Blackcabs

Then how does it work in Germany?

Losty Dublin

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

Then how does it work in Germany?

Taxis don't exclusively have to be Mercs in Germany but much as the LT1 in London, Mercedes was always the de facto brand leader taxi in Germany for well over 100 years; I guess it's a case of pride, quality and tradition that has it today being the norm for the teutonic cabbie.

foggy_lad

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Taxis don't exclusively have to be Mercs in Germany but much as the LT1 in London, Mercedes was always the de facto brand leader taxi in Germany for well over 100 years; I guess it's a case of pride, quality and tradition that has it today being the norm for the teutonic cabbie.

Are we going to be stuck with 10 year old carinas with a tow hitch for drawing a few ponies to the market and held together with baling twine and filler?

Cookie_Monster

foggy_lad wrote: »

Are we going to be stuck with 10 year old carinas with a tow hitch for drawing a few ponies to the market and held together with baling twine and filler?

no, only 9 year old ones :pac:

Spook_ie

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

Then how does it work in Germany?

Mercedes give people buying vehicles for taxis a generous discount, therefore more Mercedes on the road as taxis. You'd think someone would have had a brainwave like that here but Nah this is Ireland

Spook_ie

foggy_lad wrote: »

So specify this and also specify the minimum door size and ride height etc, there are hundreds of suitable vehicles already but taxi drivers may not like the idea of being told what car they can drive? There should be one colour maybe a luminous orange or lime green to make the cars stand out and a clear light system so you know when a driver is looking for a fare or off duty/booked, as for the testing and regular checks this is going to be looked after by the nct who can as shown by reporters get you passed practically untested for a hundred euro!

Already specified for renewals from 2012 ( if they don't renege on it like the 9 year ruling )

http://www.nationaltransport.ie/downloads/taxi-reg/nat-vehicle-standards-reqments.pdf

FreudianSlippers

Spook_ie wrote: »

Mercedes give people buying vehicles for taxis a generous discount, therefore more Mercedes on the road as taxis. You'd think someone would have had a brainwave like that here but Nah this is Ireland

I know, that's my point that it could be considered anti-competitive in nature.

Spook_ie

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

I know, that's my point that it could be considered anti-competitive in nature.

Only anti-competitive in nature if one marque is promoted above another by the TRD/government, if the deal was offered by the manufacturer/dealer then it just becomes a sales ploy. Renault did a push on the Fluence by offering a 5 year unlimited warranty to taxi drivers combined with the scrappage deal, but I think the recession and the renaging on the 9 year rule put the mockers on any big inroads